Folding table and seat



Oct. 8, 1940. F. WEBER FOLDING TABLE AND SEAT Filed Sept. 2'7, 1958 v In oenior A iiorneys Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED STATES romme TABLE AND sear Frank Weber, Astoria, Long Island, N. Y., assignor to Hugo Heller, Staten Island, N. Y.

Application September 27, 1938, Serial No. 231,955

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a combination table and seat and consists in a combined table and seat construction which may be folded and nested into a small compass so as to be easily carried 5 about and stored in a relatively small space.

' An object of the present invention is to provide a folding seat and table structure which will be found especially useful for tourists as the same may be reduced to a size enabling it to be 10 stored within the trunk of the automobile and readily set up for use when needed.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection 15 with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a perspective viewshowing the combination table and seats set up for use.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the structure collapsed and nested for carrying from 30 place toplace and for storage purposes.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing one of the sectional braces for supporting the table forming sections in elevated position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in end elevation 25 showing the means for holding the table forming sections folded together.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals it will be seen that in the preferred embodiment thereof there is provided a table 5 that comprises 30 a pair of complemental oblong sections 6-6 which at the ends thereof are hingedly connected together as at I so as to fold relative to one another whereby to provide a convenient carrying case for the accommodation of the seat and 35 braces forming the associated parts of the structure,-and which when unfolded as shown in Fig.

, 1 will provide a table of relatively large area.

Each of the sections 6 is provided with a marginal flange 6, and said flange at opposite ends of the respective section tapers as shown, the flange at said ends tapering toward the free longitudinal edges of the sections. In connection with the above it will be noted that one section 6 is shorter than the other so as to fit within the .45 latter section at the pivoted edges thereof so that said sections at the pivoted edges thereof will overlap whenthe sections are extended to form a table. In this connection it will be understood that the shorter one of said sections 6 will have 50 at the hinged edge thereof a continuation of the aforementioned flange 8 while the longer section at said hinged edge will have the flange portion thereof removed.

Also at the free longitudinal edges thereof the 66 sections 6 are provided with handles 8 to facilitate carrying the structure about when folded. Also at said edges suitable latch means is provided for holding the sections 6 in the case-forming folded condition shown in Fig. 2. Preferably such means comprises a staple 9' on the free edge of one section 6 having a chain HI attached thereto and a hook l6 on the free edge of the other section 6 for attaching a link of the chain thereto.

Also in accordance with the present invention there are provided two seats or benches ll. 10

Each of the benches ii comprises an elongated frame I! on which seat boards i3 are mounted at the respective opposite ends thereof. At the confronting end edges thereof the boards II are spaced apart for a purpose hereinafter mentioned and present an opening therebetween.

Hinged to each frame I! at the opposite ends thereof are supporting legs I! braced as at i6.

Each supporting leg assembly i6 is adapted to be braced relative to the frame It through the medium of a folding brace I6.

For supporting the table formed by the section 6-6 in a plane above the seats II and between the benches I i each section 6 is connected to one side of a bench frame I! at the opening formed between the seat boards it through the medium of supporting bars i6. The bars l6 are ar-" ranged in pairs and at one end are hinged to one side of a frame I! whereas the opposite end is hinged to a free longitudinal edge of a section 6. The bars l6 are braced relative toone another through the medium of a. cross brace II as shown.

Also the bars i6 are of such a length as to fit between the opposed sides of an associated bench frame I! thus permitting the brace bars l6 to fold substantially within the frame I! when the latter is disposed against the inner side of an adjacent or associated table forming section 6.

Also for supporting the table forming sections 6 in the elevated or set up position-shown in Fig. 1 additional foldable, sectional braces, two in number, indicated by the reference numeral it are provided. Each brace i6 is composed of three sections and these sections are of channel-shape in cross section, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Each of the braces i6 has the free end of one section thereof hingedly connected to the underside of a top forming section 6 at a hinged edge of said section and the free end of a second end section of the brace hinged to an outer side member of a bench frame I! also clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The hinged connection for each of the several braces is in the form, as shown in Fig. 3, of a 5 plate l9 riveted or otherwise secured to the part to which an end of the brace is to be hinged, and provided with ears 20 which accommodate therebetween hinge pin 2!. As shown the pin 2| passes throughholes formed in the flanges of the channel sections.

Also as shown in Fig. 3 the jointed sections of a brace are pivoted together through the medium of a hinge pin 22, with the side flanges 01' one of the sections at the hinge joint 22 having the terminals thereof rounded as shown at 23 in order to permit the hingedly connected sections of the brace to fold relative to one another. I

As shown in Fig. 1 when the parts are set up to provide the table and benches a. rigid structure presenting a table and benches is provided.

When it is desired to transport or store the structure the same is readily collapsed, the pairs of braces l6 being accommodated within the seat frames l2, the legs l4 being folded inwardly against the associated seat frame l2, and the frames l2 in turn being folded against the inner side of the sections 6 which fold into substantial parallelism to accommodate therebetween the aforementioned benches and associated parts whereby a neat compass such as shown in Fig. 2 result, permitting the structure so folded and nested to be carried abouthor stored in a relatively small space.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a combination table and seat structure which will be found useful for tourists, apartment dwellers, and also for the army and the like when studying I maps, etc.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility and advantages of an in- .vention of this character willbe had without a more detailed description thereof.

What is claimed is:

In a device of the class described, a pair of benches each including an elongated top portion having a centrally arranged opening therein, foldable legs at the ends of the top portion and sectional foldable braces connecting portions of the legs to the top portion, a table top formed of a pair of sections each including a panel and flanges, the end flanges of one section overlapping those of the other section and said overlapping parts being plvotally connected together to permit the two sections to be folded to form a case, a ladder-like brace pivotally connecting the central portion of the free side edge of each table section to a bench at the inner side edge of the bench, said ladder-dike brace entering the opening of the bench when'the bench is placed in the table top section and a brace member connecting the inner side edge of each table top section to an outer side edge of a bench, each of the last-mentioned braces being formed with three sections each of channel-shape in cross section with their ends overlapping with the sections pivotally connected together and the end sections pivoted to a table top section and bench respectively, in a bench said sections entering the opening when the parts are placed together.

FRANK WEBER. 

